STATEMENT BY RALPH NADER DOJ'S MICROSOFT ACTION

[James Love <love@cptech.org>]

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  INFORMATION POLICY NOTES
  October 20, 1997
  
  	Today the US Department of Justice announced it had asked a federal
  court to address Microsoft's promotion of its Microsoft Browers. 
  According to Attorney General Janet Reno: "Microsoft is unlawfully
  taking advantage of its Windows monopoly to protect and extend that
  monopoly and undermine consumer choice." The full press release is on
  the Web at http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/press_releases/1997press/1235.htm
  (no period).  This is Ralph Nader's statement on today's development.   
  Jamie
  
  
  
  	STATEMENT BY RALPH NADER DOJ'S MICROSOFT ACTION
  
  	FMI 202.387.8030
  
  	Today's action by DOJ is a welcome first step for consumers.
  
  	The Consumer Project on Technology recently circulated a letter about
  the browser issue on the Internet, which can be seen from
  http://www.cptech.org (no period).  Over 1,500 computer users and high
  tech businesses urged the Department of Justice to take steps that could
  prevent Microsoft from using anticompetitive practices to monopolize the
  Browser market, and dominating this important platform for Internet
  publishing.
  
  	This is an extremely important issue.  Microsoft is seeking to
  monopolize the browser market, and use this monopoly to create an
  unlevel playing field in a wide range of Internet applications and
  services, including electronic commerce and Internet publishing.
  
  	DOJ should prohibit the Browser from being bundled with the Microsoft
  operating system, and seek remedies which prohibit Microsoft from
  pursuing its announced plans of integrating its browser with Windows
  98.  DOJ did not address the issue of predatory pricing of the browser,
  and this too is important.  We look forward to further DOJ initiatives
  regarding Microsoft.
  
  	Ralph Nader and Essential Information are organizing a two day
  Appraising Microsoft conference in Washington, DC on November 13 and 14,
  1997.  The program for that conference is on the Internet at 
  http://www.appraising-microsoft.org/
  
  For more information, contact Ralph Nader or James Love at 202.387.8030
  
  
  
  
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